A Prayer for Our Marriage
Statistics on Marriage and Divorce
Marriage is a cornerstone of society, yet it faces significant challenges today. According to recent data:
- In the United States, nearly 40-50% of first marriages end in divorce, and the rate is even higher for subsequent marriages.
- Globally, the divorce rate has been steadily increasing in many countries, with cultural, economic, and relational pressures cited as contributing factors.
Despite these challenges, marriage remains a divine institution, ordained by God and central to His plan for humanity. Understanding God’s intent for marriage and the spiritual battle surrounding it is crucial for building and sustaining healthy relationships.
The Sanctity of Marriage
Marriage is a sacred covenant, designed by God as a reflection of His love and faithfulness. Genesis 2:24 (NIV) says, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” This union is not merely a contract but a spiritual bond that signifies unity, love, and commitment.
Jesus affirmed the sanctity of marriage in Matthew 19:6 (NIV): “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” This highlights God’s intent for marriages to be enduring and unbreakable.
Marriage also symbolizes the relationship between Christ and His church. Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV) states, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
God’s Plan and Intent for Marriage
God’s design for marriage is rooted in love, partnership, and purpose:
- Companionship: “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” (Genesis 2:18, NIV)
- Unity: Marriage creates oneness that mirrors God’s triune nature. “And the two will become one flesh.” (Mark 10:8, NIV)
- Reproduction and Stewardship: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28, NIV)
- Sanctification: Marriage fosters growth in love, patience, and holiness. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, NIV)
Why Satan Seeks to Destroy Marriages
Satan aims to undermine God’s plans, and marriage is a primary target because:
- It Reflects God’s Love: Marriage mirrors the covenant relationship between Christ and the church, making it a target for spiritual attack.
- It Shapes Generations: Strong marriages provide stable environments for raising godly children. Proverbs 22:6 (NIV): “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
- It Builds Community: Healthy marriages strengthen families and societies, aligning with God’s design for flourishing communities.
Jesus warns us of Satan’s intentions in John 10:10 (NIV): “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” This highlights the need for prayer, vigilance, and reliance on God to protect and restore marriages.
A Prayer for Our Marriage
Heavenly Father,
In Jesus’ name, I come boldly to Your throne of grace to lift up our marriage to You, as You have invited me in Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
You know every emotion we are feeling, and You are the One who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. As Psalm 147:3 (NIV) says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” You are the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, as it is written in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV): “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.”
Nothing is hidden from You, Lord. You know all the struggles we are facing, and You have promised in Hebrews 13:5 (NIV): “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” By the power of Your Holy Spirit, pour Your love into our hearts and fill us with hope that will not disappoint, as declared in Romans 5:5 (NIV): “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Lord, ignite our hearts for You and for each other. Guide us to seek godly counsel from a pastor or counselor filled with Your wisdom, and help us trust You fully. As Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) instructs: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Where we have sinned against each other, forgive us, Father. Grant us forgiving hearts, as You teach in Colossians 3:13 (NIV): “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
You are the God of all mankind, and nothing is too hard for You. Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV) says, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” In faith, I believe that You can do exceedingly and abundantly more than I can ask or imagine, as it is written in Ephesians 3:20 (NIV): “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”
I pray Colossians 3:12-15 (NIV) over our marriage: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Thank You, Father, for Your faithfulness and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Recommended Reading
For further guidance, consider reading:
Spiritual Warfare: When the Enemy Attacks Your Marriage.
This prayer and reflection, grounded in Scripture, can help strengthen your marriage and invite God’s restoration and protection over your relationship.